Badger-Hickey Playground

This one got a solid upgrade — the recent renovations really show, and the zipline alone is enough to make kids drag their parents back on the weekend. There’s a good mix of stuff going on: climbing structure and slides for the younger crowd, basketball for older kids, and those musical instruments that honestly entertain toddlers way longer than you’d expect. The shade trees actually do their job, which matters a lot on a July afternoon in La Crosse. Picnic tables, restrooms, parking — it’s all there, so you’re not scrambling. A solid neighborhood park that pulls in families from well beyond the immediate area.